Methods and apparatus related to an optical fiber member having a removable cover
An apparatus may include a waveguide. The waveguide may include a distal end surface which may be substantially normal to a centerline of a distal end portion of the waveguide. The apparatus may further include a cover which may be coupled to a portion of the waveguide. The cover may include a portion distal to the distal end surface of the waveguide, and the portion of the cover may be made of a material which may be configured to be removed when exposed to electromagnetic radiation emitted from a portion of the distal end surface of the waveguide.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a waveguide having a distal end surface substantially normal to a centerline of a distal end portion of the waveguide; and
a cover coupled to a portion of the waveguide, the cover having a portion distal to the distal end surface of the waveguide, and wherein the portion of the cover is made of a material configured to be removed when exposed to electromagnetic radiation emitted from a portion of the distal end surface of the waveguide.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the cover is coupled to the distal end surface of the waveguide.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover is coupled to an edge of the distal end surface of the waveguide.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the waveguide further comprises:
a cladding layer, and wherein the edge of the distal end surface of the waveguide is substantially defined by the cladding layer of the waveguide.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a substantially spherical shape.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a toroid shape that defines an opening substantially aligned along a plane normal to a centerline of a fiber core of the distal end portion of the waveguide.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the material is substantially opaque to the electromagnetic radiation when emitted from the distal end surface of the waveguide.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a jacket disposed around the waveguide proximally to the portion of the cover, wherein the material of the portion of the cover includes a composition substantially similar to a composition of the jacket.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a jacket disposed around the waveguide, wherein the cover is coupled to a portion of the jacket.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a jacket disposed around the waveguide, wherein the cover includes a proximal end separated from a distal end of the jacket by an air gap.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal end surface of the waveguide is defined partially by a fiber core of the waveguide.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover is adhesively coupled to at least one of a cladding layer of the waveguide and the portion of the edge.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is included in a ureteroscope.
14. A method, comprising:
removing a portion of a jacket disposed on a waveguide such that an axial portion of a cladding layer of the waveguide is exposed, wherein a distal end surface of the waveguide is defined by the cladding layer and a fiber core of the waveguide, and the distal end surface of the waveguide is substantially normal to a centerline of the waveguide; and
disposing a material on an edge of the distal end surface and on a portion of the distal end surface of the waveguide, wherein the material is configured to be removed when exposed to electromagnetic radiation emitted from a portion of the distal end surface of the waveguide.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the disposing step includes disposing the material on a portion of the axial portion of the cladding layer.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
removing a first portion of the material such that a second portion of the material remaining on the edge of the distal end surface has an arc of curvature co-planar with the centerline of the waveguide.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the disposing step is performed using at least one of a dipping process and a deposition process.
18. The method of claim 14 , further including:
defining a cover having a cavity defined by an inner surface of the cover, wherein the material defines a portion of the inner surface of the cover; and
wherein the disposing step includes moving the portion of the inner surface over the waveguide.
19. A method, comprising:
inserting a distal end portion of a waveguide into a body of a patient through an endoscopic tube, wherein the waveguide includes a removable material coupled to a distal end surface of the distal end portion of the waveguide, and the distal end surface is substantially normal to a centerline of the distal end portion of the waveguide; and
activating an electromagnetic radiation source coupled to a proximal end portion of the waveguide such that a portion of the removable material is removed from the distal end surface by electromagnetic radiation emitted from the electromagnetic radiation source.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the removable material is configured such that the portion of the removable material is removed within one second of the activating.